Spheric Universe Experience
Back Home

It is almost enough to look at the cool cover art to realise that it will be exciting stuff from French band Spheric Universe Experience, though a cool artwork doesn’t always mean great stuff, so I of course had to listen first. Back Home is the first album in ten years for SUE, so they probably had some fans wait for quite a long time, but I think most will agree that it was worth the wait. So how about this adventure from a universe that may or may not be our own? I would have loved to have it on Vinyl next to another Norén Creation, the Star One debut Space Metal, too bad then that this is not released on vinyl now.

Progressive metal is the name of the game hear, the label compares with the likes of Dream Theater and Symphony X, and why not? It is in that style of music, with the exception from most bands that SUE’s music feels progressive in terms of being fresh and forward thinking. It is complex with tempo and style changes, unpredictable elements, you can’t predict what is to come and that is a great feature of strong progressive metal. The vocalist is a bit limited in his ability, something of a slight negative but far from a deal breaker. The production is not as great as the best, almost a little bit dated, but it is the same here as with the vocals that it doesn’t detract much. The progressive song-writing more than makes up for the little shortcomings they have, and that they manage to keep me listening for seventy minutes is a big plus for them – it doesn’t happen often.

One aspect about Back Home is that it demands something from the listener, it isn’t a simple accessible album build on tried and tested hits. So, it can require some effort to get into, but it is more than worth it. With albums like this you keep discovering great little things that add more depth and dimension to the album, and the spherical universe that we travel back home through. The songs are all great through the whole thing, and it is the adventure that is the positive thing about this album. Some might argue that the less accessible style makes it a bit less suited as background music, and of that I can agree as it is an album you should sit down and just listen to – a good way to disconnect from the world outside, you can dream away into the spheric universe and start your journey back home. That is a great experience on offer from SUE.

Fans probably think it was worth waiting ten years for this album, you always hope your favourite bands keep releasing great albums, but it is often hard to make consistently great stuff if you frequently release stuff. Sometimes it is better to just let things grow and come to life over a longer process. I just say that as I have no idea about how SUE wrote Back Home, all I know is that I really enjoyed listening to it and will keep enjoying it whenever I feel up for it – it is a great album well worth the time and effort.

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